The Paper Daughters of Chinatown - Heather B. Moore Page 0,47

ten years her senior. His face was handsome in a boyish way, and he was nicely dressed, although not in a flashy fashion.

Mei Lien knew better than to give out too much information. She simply said, “Yes.” Then she quickly lowered her gaze, as if she were bashful. This was not a hard part to play. Until tonight, Mei Lien had never flirted with a man.

“I am from Hong Kong too.” His voice was warm, genuine, unlike the other men’s leering tones. “Although it has been many years since I’ve been there.”

At this, Mei Lien raised her eyes. “How many years?” Was the question too personal? She cast a glance in Ah-Peen Oie’s direction, who was watching them while she flirted with an older man named Zhang Wei. Mei Lien had heard whispers about him being a very wealthy leader of the tong.

“Fifteen years,” the man next to her said.

Mei Lien met his gaze again. His eyes had faint lines about the edges as if he smiled a lot, although he wasn’t smiling now. He was looking at her with an interest that some of the other men had, but this man’s interest seemed more genuine.

“Do you . . . do you miss it?” Mei Lien asked in a quiet voice, not wanting to be overheard by anyone else.

His nod was brief.

“I miss it too,” Mei Lien said, and to her horror her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears.

She looked down, blinking rapidly. Had he noticed her tears? Would he laugh? Would he say something to Ah-Peen Oie? But he said nothing.

Mei Lien worked hard to compose herself, to think of something else to say. But before she could come up with anything, he had moved away and begun speaking to one of the other men. They laughed about something, and Mei Lien’s cheeks burned. She didn’t even dare look in Ah-Peen Oie’s direction.

Mei Lien still had another couple of hours before an opium dose, but she suddenly craved one. Even breathing hurt. She lifted her gaze and found Ah-Peen Oie had moved on to another patron.

The older man Ah-Peen Oie had been speaking to was now sitting by himself, smoking. His eyes connected with Mei Lien’s, and embarrassment jolted through her. She had been explicitly commanded not to make any advances. But the curved edges of his mouth told her it was too late; he’d seen the longing in her eyes for a hit of the opium pipe.

He crooked his finger, and, like a spider spinning a web, drew Mei Lien toward him, her feet moving of their own accord.

He patted the chair next to him, and she sat obediently. Without a word, he handed over the pipe. She had never tried smoking before, but she was willing to experiment. The first inhale burned her nose and throat, and she barely managed to hold back a cough. The second inhale sent a pleasant buzz through her.

“Are you friends with Huan Sun?” Zhang Wei asked.

“Who?” Mei Lien asked before she could stop herself. Surely her cheeks were red now.

But Zhang Wei didn’t seem bothered. He only chuckled, which of course drew Ah-Peen Oie’s notice. “The man you spoke to.”

“Oh.” Mei Lien exhaled and handed the pipe over. She had gone too far. She shouldn’t have shared the pipe, and she should know the names of the men in attendance. “I have only just met him.”

Zhang Wei chuckled again, and Mei Lien was surprised by the man’s good humor, considering that he was one of the most feared of the tong in all of Chinatown. “I am glad I came tonight, Mei Lien.”

He knew her name?

“Ah-Peen Oie was right,” he continued.

“I’m always right,” Ah-Peen Oie said in a lilting tone as she appeared and rested her hand on Zhang Wei’s shoulder. “Can I get you any refreshment?”

Zhang Wei lifted his pipe. “I have everything I need right here.” His gaze shifted to Mei Lien, causing her temperature to rise.

She quickly lowered her eyes, if only to avoid Ah-Peen Oie’s sharp observations. It would not do to be caught blushing in front of the man the mistress considered her private client. Mei Lien had also heard from the chattering courtesans that Ah-Peen Oie didn’t share her personal clients with anyone.

“See to refilling Huan Sun’s glass,” Ah-Peen Oie said.

Mei Lien obediently rose and nodded at Zhang Wei without meeting his gaze directly. Then she moved away from the pair, feeling both of their gazes upon her back. She found a wine